difflock

But, erm, why did anyone ever imagine that any given car would achieve the manufacturers claimed (and patently rediclous/impossible) figures? Are some/most of the driving population stupid (or perhaps more kindly "lacking sufficient cognative function") The last time I looked about 2008/2009 I knocked 17.5 % of the diesel EU figs and 22.5% off the petrol ones.(being kind to the petrol figs too, I was) The manufacturers have since got even better at "fiddling the books". But unless doing astronomical milages once over 40mpg does not make a big difference to the cost of motoring. i.e. More £ saved by increasing fuel consumption from 30mpg to 40mpg Than by incresing from 40mpg to 50 mpg. And once on the right side of 50mpg, no bloody odds/insignificent furthur savings to be made. AND a lot harder to realistically achieve such additional mpg improvments. Marcus

Not v many large tree surgery firms in NI, are there? Merely taking a wild guess.

If this thread will stand another "outsider" (who btw is NOT happy once his feet leave the ground) comment. Simply because I am afraid of heights, IF I ever work at height I am particularly careful, I get less done mind. I still AM absolutly in awe of the young guy (Honnold?) "free solo" climbing btw, BUT he makes it look easy, wherein lies the key, he is on top of his job/cannot understand why others see it as remarkable. Quite genuinely. Again, We are ALL different. With different abilities and skill sets. I do fear "the glamour" of swinging Tarzan like, from trees probably attracts those who do NOT actually possess the natural innate ability (WHICH CANNOT BE TAUGHT) into this particular trade. regards Marcus PS That honey climber video was excellent, when needs must innate ability comes to the fore.

Steve, I am 55. Despite driving some 20k per year since I was eighteen, sometimes stuipdly tired, prob not infrequently still "drunk" the morning after (we are talking 20 plus year ago) And routinely, multiple times per annum driving in Europe, incl to Torrymolinas. NO high speed, or serious injury causing accidents. Only a couple of "fender benders" Despite cough cough "probably" running very overloaded bytimes, but driving slower, and ALWAYS giving the other party the benefit of the doubt. i.e Driving defensively, quite intuitively. I use my fornicating god given brain. Like, from 50 years of observation, the majority of the population do not. I really really enjoyed playing with explosives in the RE, TA. Prob somewhere on the now fashionable Autistic Spectrum (but before it was fashionable) and observing the workings of LA manual employees (& virtually unsackable) for the past 30 years. Dumb and dumber aka Dunning and Kruger. We are ALL different. Some are not aware they are different. That can be a problem. This point was proved to me (twice) this morning by (I) Amid ranking officer collegue who expressed bemusment that area was length times bredth (PS he is a LA "education Officer), who strangly has had multiple car "accidents". Plus another collegue who was convinced that E3(a) No. 3, was actually E3 No3, despite several verbal explanations, and hence dug a hole in the wrong grave plot. One simply cannot "fix stupid". Our current "world" is fixated on preventing stupid hurting himself and others, with NO consideration given to those who are not stupid. I.E. Being able to risk access, a simple everyday dynamic mental excerise. Best illustrated by the decisions everyone makes in respect of driving home from the Pub. Some do, some of us dont. Simples Marcus

Steve, your job is gold plated for life If in any doubt Dont. No thinking required. PS Our recent COSHH statements state that barrier cream is flammable and recommend wearing gloves while applying. I do understand, you understand, a H&S Officer had a hand in the prep of this document. Pun intended.

cough cough, as a final year failed Civil Engineer, I might just be aware of ALL of that list above. NDT=non destructive testing SWL = safe weight laden (with absolutly STUIPDLY high FOS built in, to be sure, to be very very very sure) PLUS Factors 0f Safety, for each component, generally multiple of integers, to allow for the stupid and inept. The Stuipd(or more correctly cognatively challenged) and Inept are frequently employed driving/operating Bin Lorries and on Construction sites (just watch youtube, it is RARELY the equipment that fails?) Despite undertaking some apparently "stuipd" and potentially hazardous operations, by myself, no one else in the slightest danger, I still got both eyes ears arms legs AND all digits are complete and undamaged. So:001_tt2::001_tt2:

Nicely done

No but I, me, mesel once observed a Gorilla crapping at Belfast Zoo. While sitting on a perch about 12 feet of the ground, just in front of the glass. Quite spectular that was. I was glad it was glass and not mesh cage:lol:

I will assure you that he never "shock" loaded anything, Ah bin about enough machinery long enough to know, for sure. Seriously, seriously! I did, btw, state owner operator:thumbup: regards, marcus PS In my job I am fully au-fait with H&S, and the implications for me as a Supervisor, IF any of my staff get injured. I also fully understand the hieracy of how to access if a job can be done mechanically in the first instance, rather than manually. Bin there, done that.

Man Sur, I bes the ripe ould age o 55, an loving it. Never been fatter (about 14 stone), but never bin happier(or perhaps more accurately, more content) Cause I no longer have any fornications to spare. I have also got better at expressing my reasonable reasons for being frustrated with work collegues performances, as opposed to bottling it up. I also praise where appropriate, and take due(and undue bytimes) critisism without rancour. Life is good.

However our current elf-n-safety nanny state culture now allows the less competent to hide behind legislation. Like for instance I reasonably recently observed an owner operator with a wee 2 axle Kato crane, lift a 26 tonne bin lorry off a soft verge. Using simple dynamics, in that he hoisted until the rear end of the crane left the ground, by a couple of feet, then "bounced" the truck out, a fraction of an inch at a time, but inexorably. Way way outside any operating protocals BUT perfectly safely. He grinned happily the whole time he was engaged on the task, simply because it was a challange. A by-the-hour paid driver ud prob have said, get a bigger crane. cheers m

Currently disposing of various LandCruiser bits on their latest tender. In case anyone is interested. Course LandCruisers never break down:lol:, so spares are prob redundant! m

:thumbup: Not based on ANY knowledge of professionally climbing trees, rather based on 30 years LA exp, where the Barrack room Lawyers always know best, as to why jobs should not be undertaken, strangely these guys are generally the least successful in their whole-life experiences. Our latest "wheeze" is "lone Working", JHC!, what a charter for the work averse. I had a guy refusing to drive his lightly loaded FWD van on rural roads, because they were icy? Buses, and HGV's were still using them, etc etc. This guy also drives 70 odd miles to his work and the same home again, an entirely more "risky" drive. Cheers M

And Greece is teetering on the verge of leaving the Euro/its economy imploding? Euro Central Bank "Quantitive easing" = print money? Hmmm Well Greek holidays and euro imports might be a bit cheaper at least.

thanks, I will m

60p/l for gas, an yer a farmer! "Disgusted of Dervock" PS Wor local very God fearing Church going farmer runs his bought-for-a-song hi-spec petrol Accord, on LPG, sourced from his own bulk LPG tank(for the grain dryer) Plus a new-bought dual-fuel Vectra as a rough runabout. And he then claims all the VAT back. No doubt he puts the monies saved in the collection plate of a Sunday!

Exactly the sad case with David Brown, as was. Introduced a cracking 4 cyl engine with 3 big ends , knocking out about 40HP. Then pushed this same basic block to near double the HP, still with 3 big ends. Ditto the superb David Brown 3 point linkage, fine for a 40HP 2wd tractor, but sorely inadequate for twice the weight and HP. Essentially unchanged. AS I found out when I bust the DB1490 ramshaft and discovered just how doncy the actual arrangment was:blushing:

Ummm, but Wisecobandit as engineers better understand the ICE and metals and ceramics et al. And with better quality fuels, technology and electronics. Perhaps not? Be so likely to spit the dummy out, that is. So! Dinny be such a Luddite.

It appears it is easier to get a boosted smaller capacity engine to meet the EC CO2 regulation "bands" therefore a lower Road Fund Duty (As if it were ever spent on the roads!!!!!!) and therefore a more salable product. The law of unintended consequences. Ditto for 3 cyls replacing 4 and 4 replacing 6 cyls. Due to lower frictional losses with a lower no of cylinders and other moving parts. Also lighter, therefore more efficient. I will however readily admit, that the 1.6TDI is a perfect replacment for the 1.9TDI HP for HP and ft lb for ft lb. But the 1.6TDI is now being replaced by a 1.4 TDI (not sure if 3 or 4 cyl though) Progress folks, simply progress. PS The "boosted" 1.2TSI petrol is an absolute honey of an engine, despite being titchy in capacity AND petrol, it lugs like a diesel, quite astounding really. PPS I also put 253,000 miles on the 1.9TDI, on the origional head gasket. Kept coolant topped up though, despite a Motorway leak that necessitated driving at 50mph until I reached the docks and water. Drove on the temp needle rather than the speedo, which actually worked (it was a split/chafed through hose)

I intend to start in the blowing East wind in Feb, if we get it. drys the ground and fair "tobers" the fresh cut grass.(it virtually dissappears overnight in the frost) plus sets back the fresh growth. Generally start in the rural graveyards and rougher rural sites. we can then ignore them during the proper start to the urban grass cutting circuit. Cos generally it is kinda wet here in March into April & May when the growth takes off.

I recall the brake pedal in the 1998 TDI Galaxy (with ABS) would slowly go right to the floor, with reasonable pressure, if the engine was running, from new too. That puzzled me, but she always passed MOT's, despite the brakes never being that effective. M

One pays ones money and takes ones pick. I tried the 230V Krpan, then switched to a PTO Krpan, but wished I had stayed with the 230V option as it would now be so much handier for cutting to length out of billet bundles , as and when when required. The Krpan circ saw is NOT anywhere near as well constructed as the Krpan Winch or Krpan hyd splitter. Very very lightly made up, in comparison to its siblings, to the point of being easily, very easily bent and damaged, unlike the winch or splitter.. But still SO much quicker and easier on the back than the chainsaw.

WoW! Just googled Alex Honnold. Seriously impressed with his ability and demnour. A serious question though, how does he manage virtually without water on these extended climbs?, since he obviously cannot carry, what would be deemed to be sufficient for adequate hydration?

I would NOT slag off a smaller capacity engine for towing. Look at the 1.0l Ecoboost Ford are fitting to their Mondeos n other models. Or the VW/Skoda 1.2TSI, that pulls like a diesel. The times they are a changing. BUT Do NOT expect to neglect the maintenance and get away wit it. Use the correct oil, keep an eye on the dipstick, and simmer the turbo if working hard. i.e. Dont just "pull the strangler" From someone who worked a variable vane turbo on a 1.9TDI hard, and got 253,000 miles on it with ZERO maint.

Oh ere Mrs. Watermelons is more than a "dead on" description. I like that catchy title. And God (but, sorry, there is NO God under their scheme of things) help a country run on their principles. Cheers M